IS HONESTY PASSING?

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12536, 30 December 1933, Page 3

IS HONESTY PASSING?

Are people becoming less honest? asks the “Daily Mail.” Doctors are notoriously neglected when accounts fall due. and tailors share the difficulty. Theatre managers complain of booked seats that are never taken aud remain unpaid for, aud restaurants have on their lists “trusted” customers likely to go on owing their bills. The intensity of competition to-day may tempt the trader to give credit, but in the view of the National Chamber of Trade the chief sin is the growing reluctance to pay accounts promptly. Air Patrick Howling, secretary of that organisation, said recently: “It might be improper to say that people are definitely less honest, but it would be fair to say that dishonesty has grown with the greater number of opportunities presented.” A doctor with a large practice said: “I am hundreds of pounds out ey ery year. The old tradition that the doctor is the last man to be paid clings stubbornly, and it is a marvel that some medical men manage to live.” A hotel manager stated: “Every London restaurant of note has bad book debts caused largely by diners who think that the very fact that they are seen in the place is sufficient payment.”